Although the Atlanta Braves had another tough series against the San Diego Padres this past weekend, it was a welcome sight to see Ronald Acuña Jr. back in meaningful action at Truist Park. Acuña delivered in the three-game set against the Padres, but the Braves, who continue to underachieve, ultimately disappointed again. Friday’s mishap involving Eli White and Matt Tuiasosopo was especially ugly.
With Memorial Day giving the Braves a day off before their road series against the Philadelphia Phillies starts Tuesday night, a new concern has emerged following Acuña’s return. What if he’s unable to handle playing right field on a daily basis? What if he needs to serve as the designated hitter just to keep his bat in the lineup? This raises a deeper issue.
While other teams might face similar situations, Atlanta’s lack of defensive versatility poses a serious problem when trying to optimize the batting order. So far in his MLB career, Drake Baldwin has only played catcher. Sean Murphy is strictly a catcher as well. Marcell Ozuna once played outfield competently, but those days are long gone. Getting all three into the lineup was already a challenge—now it’s even tougher with Acuña back.
A likely solution could be using a late-game defensive replacement for Acuña, though there might be another answer to consider.
Ronald Acuña Jr.’s return could potentially complicate things down the line for the Braves
When Ronald Acuña Jr. was recovering from his first ACL tear three years ago, the Braves’ roster looked very different. At that time, Marcell Ozuna was struggling through the worst slump of his career, and it wasn’t until May 2023 that he began to turn things around offensively. The Braves used the designated hitter spot creatively, rotating in players like William Contreras to get his bat in the lineup while keeping Travis d’Arnaud behind the plate. That strategy proved effective.
Now, with Ozuna performing as one of the league’s top designated hitters—especially excelling at drawing walks—it’s tough to justify removing his bat from the lineup. Although Sean Murphy has improved significantly at the plate compared to last year, rookie Drake Baldwin is making a strong case for NL Rookie of the Year. The key concern remains protecting Acuña’s knee from additional stress this season.
To manage this, Brian Snitker may need to be strategic, adjusting based on matchups and Acuña’s physical needs. Occasionally slotting Ozuna into left field could be a workable option to keep his bat active, with Alex Verdugo or Eli White filling in at right field while Michael Harris II anchors center.
All signs point to Acuña needing to stay in right field on a near-daily basis, with only a limited number of appearances at DH. Unlike three years ago, the solution isn’t as straightforward. This situation also raises the possibility that Atlanta could let Ozuna leave in free agency next offseason. Despite his value, his contract demands and limited defensive flexibility could be deciding factors.
As is often the case in baseball, these roster challenges tend to work themselves out over time.
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